Tempe & ASU: Pedestrian and Scooter Accidents Around Campus

Arizona State University’s Tempe campus has tens of thousands of students on the ground each day — and most of them are on foot, on bikes, or on e-scooters at some point during the day. Combined with the vehicle traffic on University Drive, Rural Road, Mill Avenue, and Apache Boulevard, Tempe has one of the highest concentrations of pedestrian accidents in the state.

The ASU Danger Zone

The highest-risk areas surround the campus on all sides: the University/Rural intersection, the Mill Avenue/University intersection, Apache Boulevard through campus, and the crosswalks on Rural Road between University and Apache. These locations combine heavy pedestrian volume with steady vehicle traffic and frequent turning movements.

E-Scooter Crashes Are Surging

Lime, Bird, and other scooter companies have flooded the Tempe market. Students use them heavily, often without helmets, sometimes while impaired, and frequently on roads not designed for scooter traffic. E-scooter accidents near ASU include scooter-vs-vehicle collisions (often at intersections where drivers don’t see the scooter), single-scooter crashes on rough pavement, uneven sidewalks, or railroad tracks, and scooter-vs-pedestrian collisions on sidewalks and paths.

Liability in scooter accidents can be complex — the driver who hit you, the scooter company (if a mechanical defect contributed), and even the city (if road conditions were a factor) may all share responsibility.

Student-Specific Insurance Issues

ASU students involved in accidents face unique insurance challenges. Many are on their parents’ policies from another state. Out-of-state coverage may complicate claims in Arizona. Young drivers often carry only minimum coverage. And students on scooters may have no applicable insurance at all, making UIM coverage on any auto policy they have critical.

Mill Avenue and Nightlife DUI Risk

The Mill Avenue entertainment district generates regular DUI crashes on Thursday through Saturday nights and during ASU football game days. If a drunk driver hits you near Mill Avenue, you may have a dram shop claim against the bar in addition to the driver.

The Law Badgers Serve Tempe

If you’ve been injured as a pedestrian, cyclist, or scooter rider near ASU or anywhere in Tempe, call (833) DTF-IGHT. We understand the unique challenges of campus-area accidents.